Targeting the Weak: Exploring Transnational Digital Repression

Abstract

Much of the cyber conflict literature is heavily focused on state-on-state cyber conflict. Yet, data is available indicating that the most vulnerable are the non-state actors who comprise civil-society organisations, religious, cultural, or political minorities who seek refuge in diaspora communities. The communities and individuals who seek refuge in third-party nations with more permissive legal environments are increasingly being targeted by the regimes in their origin states via cyber means. These attacks meant to safeguard the ‘sovereignty’ or will of the attacking (home) nation, undermine the sovereignty and security of the harbouring nation, and the rights of the people residing within it. This analysis examines how cyber conflict extending across borders, but not targeting foreign governments, is an increasingly common and pernicious phenomenon. These attacks are clandestine in nature and meant to undermine domestic adversaries residing abroad. This paper examines why and how states target these populations and the implications of these attacks on host nation sovereignty. The analysis seeks to expand the cyber conflict literature by presenting data and cases on cyber conflicts targeting the weakest members of the global community, those seeking refuge from oppressive regimes.